2012 Obelisk Awards in Pictures

Earlier this month Business Council for Arts announced the winners of this year’s Obelisk Awards. The awards recognize companies and business leaders who contribute to local arts and culture. The awards were handed out by BCA Founder’s Chair Nancy Nasher (blue suit), Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (bright purple tie), BCA board member Larry Glasgow (lavender tie) and BCA CEO Katherine Wagner (black dress) – they’re the folks you see in most of the awards pictures. Ro2 Gallery and Half Price Books were among the award recipients. After the gallery is the complete list of winners and finalists. (Photos courtesy of Business Council for Arts)

2012 OBELISK AWARD WINNERS

New Initiatives Award

This award recognizes businesses for a new initiative with a single focus. This initiative may impact one or several arts and cultural organizations. There are three New Initiatives Awards given each year, one each in the following areas: Small Business, Midsize Business and Large Business.

Ro2 Art

New Initiatives Award 2011 (small business)

Nominated by The McKinney Avenue Contemporary

Since beginning their partnership in 2010, Ro2 Gallery has offered substantial and effective support to the McKinney Avenue Contemporary (MAC) by raising membership, including initiating a new membership class called The MAC PAC. Ro2 has provided space for the MAC to increase its geographical reach into uptown and downtown Dallas, where the two organizations have co-created programming, shared audiences and participated in community outreach. Ro2 provides ongoing publicity and awareness for the MAC through its newsletter and by leveraging media outlets. Co-owner Jordan Roth has joined the Board of Directors, where he continues to influence growth and strategy.

Boardwalk Auto Group Volkswagon Dealers

New Initiatives Award 2012(mid-size business)

Nominated by Dallas Film Society

Boardwalk Auto Group supported the Dallas Film Society in 2012 as the presenting sponsor for the 6th annual Dallas International Film Festival with underwriting, 15 new vehicles with Dallas International Film Festival signage used as shuttles for the 11-day festival, and the use of another ten new vehicles strategically parked at NorthPark Center, Mockingbird Station and West Village. Boardwalk Auto Group also promoted the festival to customers and more than 400 employees at seven metroplex dealerships.

Half Price Books

New Initiatives Award 2012 (large business)

Nominated by WordSpace

In 2011, Half Price Books began working with WordSpace, underwriting the public appearance of noted journalist, editor and author, Dan Savage. In 2012, Half Price underwrote the February appearance of author, actress and comedian Amy Sedaris. These highly popular events have allowed WordSpace to fund additional educational programs and readings that highlight and promote North Texas authors. In addition to its support of WordSpace, Half Price Books is an ongoing promotional supporter of the Dallas Museum of Art’s BookSMART Festival, which showcases award-winning authors and illustrators of children’s literature, allowing them to discuss their work and share insights on their creative process.

Arts Partnership Award

This award recognizes businesses that have demonstrated leadership and provided outstanding overall support for at least three years to one or more North Texas arts and cultural organizations. To be eligible, a business must have been supporting the arts continuously since 2009 (or earlier) and must presently support the arts. There are three Arts Partnership Awards given each year, one each in the following areas: Small Business, Midsize Business and Large Business.

The Downtown Business News

Arts Partnership Award 2012 (small business)

Nominated by Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The Downtown Business News has supported the Dallas Black Dance Theatre for 15 years, growing the theatre’s brand awareness, especially within the downtown Dallas community. Because of The Downtown Business News’ continued partnership, Dallas Black Dance Theatre has been able to significantly expand its community and impact new and growing audiences. Additionally, The Downtown Business News’ support has cemented Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s position not only as a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, but as a thriving member of the North Texas cultural community.

Good Fulton & Farrell

Arts Partnership Award 2012 (mid-size business)

Nominated by Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Good, Fulton & Farrell Architects have been working as advocates for the museum on the expansion project for more than a decade. They assisted the museum in selecting the land for the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, serving as local architects, sustainability consultants, and furniture and interiors consultants. They worked with the City of Dallas assisting the museum in securing special zoning and personally quarterbacked the approval process for the city to use bond money from the 2006 bond package. Good, Fulto

n & Farrell has a history of service to cultural organizations both through volunteer service and in a professional capacity.

Frost Bank

Arts Partnership Award 2012 (large business)

Nominated by Nasher Sculpture Center

In 2008, Frost Bank began its partnership with the Nasher Sculpture Center by sponsoring the program Symphonic Sundays. Most recently, Frost has provided instrumental support of the Nasher’s educational programming. Frost’s commitment in 2011 as the Nasher Sculpture Center Umbrella Education Sponsor bolstered every component of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s education programming for adults and children of all ages. This sponsorship enabled Nasher to offer school tours, family programs, artist talks, lectures, educator workshops and community outreach to the many diverse populations the museum serves.

Arts Education Award

This award recognizes outstanding business support for arts education programs supplementing and enhancing the core curriculum of North Texas schools. Only one Arts Education Award is given each year; all sizes of businesses are eligible..

Target

Nominated by Dallas Children’s Theater

For two decades, Target has shown exceptional and long-term dedication to the Dallas Children’s Theater. Target supported the theater’s earliest outreach initiatives which evolved into a five-year revolutionary corporate partnership between 2005 and 2009 to develop new audiences. Called The Target Time Family Series, it provided audiences with deeply discounted tickets and free children’s books. In 2006-2007, Target extended this program to include post-show related arts. In 2010, Target began supporting Dallas Children’s Theater’s innovative, multi-sensory educational school program, Curtains Up on Reading. Curtains Up on Reading serves more than 2,500 DISD students currently, with integrated classroom experiences that enhance content and have been shown to raise test scores.

Arts Leadership Award

This award recognizes exceptional long-term leadership, vision and commitment by an individual in support of arts and culture in North Texas, particularly by encouraging and developing business-arts alliances.

David Spence, Good Space, Inc.

Arts Leadership Award 2012

Nominated by Laura Miller

David Spence’s work in the Bishop Arts area of Oak Cliff in Dallas has created low-income housing for artists and other creative and mixed use development that has resulted in revitalization. Careful to save details of this area that was originally formed between 1900 and 1925, he is a preservationist who has hired artisans and artists to bring the district back to life. In addition, he has been instrumental in the creation of public art projects, and is himself a writer. His contributions to the Mural Arts Project helped recruit and train high-school students to create and produce murals, cleaning up a number of corners in the Bishop Arts District. David is committed to keeping the “arts” in Bishop Arts.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This year, a special Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to an individual whose career has had a transformational effect on the culture of the individual’s community.

Quin Mathews, Quin Mathews Films

Nominated by The McKinney Avenue Contemporary

Since its inception in 1994, Quin Mathews has contributed to the MAC by producing documentary films that promote the MAC and create awareness of its programs and membership, providing strategic public relations and donating technical equipment. In addition to the MAC, Quin Mathews has produced and aired more than 2,600 interviews with people in the arts since co-founding Art Matters 23 years ago. He has used his talents to produce countless pro bono or below-cost projects that benefit arts organizations from the New Conservatory of Dallas to the Dallas Museum of Arts. Quin Mathews plays an integral role in the art community, extending his generosity across the visual arts, performing arts, music and education.

ADDITIONAL 2012 OBELISK AWARD FINALISTS

The companies and business leaders that were nominated for their invaluable contributions and dedication to the North Texas cultural community are all to be congratulated. Their commitment to this region is creating a better tomorrow for all of us. Thanks to their leadership, the future of North Texas has never looked brighter.

Ackley Financial Group

Nominated by WaterTower Theatre

AT&T

Nominated by Repertory Company Theatre

Derek Blount

Nominated by WaterTower Theatre

Forte PR

Nominated by Dallas Film Society

The Hall Agency

Nominated by Shakespeare Dallas

Immediate Consumption

Nominated by Texas Winds Musical Outreach, Inc.